Excitement, anticipation, enthusiasm, innocence, hopes, dreams,
focus, determination, hard work, togetherness. You don't need to be
a basketball junkie to know what October means. This week is the
dawn of a new day for basketball teams across America as October
brings the day we've all been waiting for . . . the official first
day of practice.

If you've been following Catelyn's Countdown, you will know that
tomorrow is our official first day of practice. There is nothing
better than the squeak of new shoes, the bounce of new balls, and
the glimmer in the eyes of young (and not so young) competitors as
the championship quest begins.

SPECIAL GUESTS IN TOWN

For the first time since 2004, the Phoenix Suns are back on
NAU's campus. The Suns arrived in Flagstaff Monday night for a
five-day training camp in preparation for their 2013-14 NBA season.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Jeff Hornaceck, the
Suns will hold four closed practices Tuesday through Friday in
Rolle Activity Center. The training camp will culminate on Saturday
with an open-to-the-public scrimmage in the Skydome at noon. NAU
women's and men's basketball teams will be holding "Morning
Madness" before the Saturday scrimmage starting at 9:30am. Both
teams will participate in basketball skills contests and will be
introduced at halftime of the Suns scrimmage.

THEY ASK ME WHY I TEACH

A favorite poem of many teachers, "They Ask Me Why I Teach" by
Glenice L. Harmon, sums up the honor and thrill felt by educators
every day as they are surrounded by bright minds, big hearts, and
talented souls.

An excerpt: They ask me why I teach, And I reply, Where could I
find more splendid company? There sits a statesman, strong,
unbiased, wise, Another later Webster, silver-tongued, And there a
doctor whose quick steady hand can mend a bone, or stem the
life-bloods flow . . .

Bradlee Cotton is a freshman from Denver, Colorado and is
double-majoring in Environmental Engineering and Spanish. In a
recent class, Bradlee was assigned to do an autobiographical
speech. Bradlee presented her autobiography in the form of a poem
in front of her class. She was then assigned to present it to me.
(See the video below). This year, I am fortunate to coach 13 young
women like Bradlee. Where could I find more splendid company?

FROST BITE

Our lone senior, Amanda Frost (Riverside, CA) shares her
thoughts on the first day of basketball practice: "Everything I
have ever worked for begins when I walk in the gym for the first
day of practice."